The handling of the dawn service at Gallipoli is under
attack, with claims it was inappropriately staged and left
looking like a rubbish dump. It's turning
into something it was never meant to be.

How should the event be handled? Were you there, or have you
attended in the past? What are your impressions?

What you said.

Get over it all you whingers! The rubbish can be cleaned easily and this was catered for! Its only a few chip wrappers, chiko roll bags, and condoms - honestly you would think it was toxic waste by the way you sooks are bleating! The old diggers would applaud these kids for keeping the ANZAC spirit alive. I'm sure some of you 40 - 50 year olds never gave a stuff about ANZAC in your youth and now you whinge! Get a grip.

Sharon J

I am always thankful that I visited Gallipoli in the middle of August on a quiet tranquil day, where one was able to pay their respects in a dignified manner. The thought of mixing it with the crowds on ANZAC day has and never will appeal, as the potential for incidents such as this will always be there. While I cannot condone those who left their rubbish, a finger of blame must be directed to the organisers. If you are going to have an event of such magnitude, you at least must supply some rubbish bins - I don't care where it is.

Oh, and the sooner most people understand that Gallipoli belongs to Turkey - not Australia, the better. The Turk authorities would not have to build new roads if we did not all rush their en masse throughout the year. I think incidents such as this highlight how accomodating the Turks have been over the years.

Simon

The bogans at Gallipoli are exactly the sort of Australians I go out of my way to avoid when travelling.

Most people there were more interested in drinking themselves in to a stupor and showing no respect for the country they're in or the people that live in it.

I am of the opinion that elaborate/any ceremonies remembering wars are unnecessary. If the service was simplified, 3/4's of the bogans would stay in London.

I'm not moved by the idea of heartfelt nothings from the likes of John Laws and Teflon John anyway. The whole event looks cheap and pointless.

Absolutely nothing. Huh.

It seems that sometimes younger Australia's can never win. Those 17,000 odd "young" Australian's (including my cousin) who participated at the ANZAC Cove dawn service were getting involved in something which their (my) generation has seen nothing of. Generation Y has not seen the likes of the Vietnam War, or WW2, and due to the rising international tensions surrounding the War On Terror, younger Australians are realising the importance of understanding our military past, so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past and enter into war being gun-ho, or just simply due to blind aliegance to other nations. Whilst my cousin was in Gallipoli for the service, I went with my younger brother to the Dawn Service at the Shrine in Melbourne; this experience was quite emotionally moving for me. Having reached young adulthood I can really see, feel and understand (politically and socially) the ramifications of war much more acutely than during adolescence; and if visiting Gallipoli when I'm next in Europe furthers enhances that understanding, then I'm there and I'll make sure my friends experience it too!

Chris F

Hooray for Dan K and Christo (and most of the others here represented). I remember my father's anger in the 70s and 80s at the declining numbers at ANZAC marches and the anti-war protests that accompanied them....I can't see that he would be any less disgusted by the condescending circus of bargain-basement 'patriotism' that currently passes for our media/political treatment of the event/day/commemoration. It seems to me (and I freely, happily and thankfully admit to having no expereince of war) that as the witnesses to the events being commemorated (or, in the least appropriate sense of the word, celebrated) pass away the nature of the event becomes more and more contested - or hijacked - by those interests who see in it another opportunity to further encourage us to indulge ourselves with bad-faith, unreflective self-congratulation through the vehicles of commercialism (don't get me started about that asinine and nauseating McDonalds ad) and cynical political opportunism.Like me, my father didn't fight in any of the wars of the last century but he was friends with (and deeply respected) some who had. To see those gap-year goons lying on graves watching big screen video clips (can I get a list of where their grandparents are buried so me and my mates can go pitch our tent on them as an act of 'commemoration' this weekend? I'll bring the slab.) bewildered me - it would have sickened him.Gallipoli was 90 years ago, let's make it a necessary and ineradicable part of our past but at the same time let's get past fetishizing (and simultaneously degrading) the events of history now that there's no one left to stop us turning it into the jingoistic back-slapping exercise in cynical hagiography it's becoming.

Look Back in Lager

Oh, for far...

Here we go again with people calling ANZAC day a celebration of war - it's a COMMERATION of those who have served their country. Stop twisting the whole point of the day around.

As for the junk left around - disgraceful. How hard is it to take a plastic bag out with you? And although I like the Bee Gees, the Dawn Service is hardly the time or the place.

l337

Let's see what John Howard thinks if we organise a dawn service on his grave.

T Bayley

Expat! No!

If the bogan yobs in Britain start leaving their little communities and mixing with the locals, we'll have to put up with hearing "maaaaaate hows yous doin?" in our quiet local pubs. We'll have to suffer "maaaaate, this French stuff ain't got nuffink on our Aussie drops" at the good restaurants and we'll hear nowt but "maaaaaaate, did yous see the cricket on the weekend?" at our places of work.

I left Australia to avoid bogans. I don't want them mixing with civilised people in London.

Oh, and leaving crap at Gallipoli?! Have some respect you scumbags.

Paul

I believe most people were there for the right reasons, but the rubbish that was left behind is a bit disgraceful. This was the largest gathering they have had at the site for the ANZAC day ceremony, and maybe it was a case of not being prepared. Next year, provision of bins, placing bans or limitations on alocohol allowed in the site and providing seating for those expected numbers could go a long distance in making the ceremony run a tad more smoothly. I think we should be glad that such a large number of young people in the country, myself included, feel pride in our diggers and what they did for our country. But sometimes, youth gets carried away.

Hutch

anyone who has ever travelled anywhere overseas knows that when young Australans get together they tend to get drunk and put on the Ocker (crass, ugly) Aussie much to the embarassment some of us. It doesn't surprise me in the least that Howard is defending them, they're the sort of oiks who voted for him at the last election.

Disgusted veteran

I always feel quite proud to be an Australian during the Anzac Day commemoration. This year however, I was left feeling disgusted by the direspectful behaviour of the people that attended this years' dawn service on and near the shores of Gallipoli. To quote a well known phrase....shame, shame, shame!!!!!

Mark S

why do we celebrate this travesty anyway? Why celebrate this guys who were so servile that they obeyed this very stupid order.

hey i bet you don't see yanks celebrating custers last stand.

Anon

I visited Gallipoli 10 years ago, however not for ANZAC day. I am appauled by the sight of people sleeping between graves and the need for entertainment prior to the service.I don't understand why the attendance on ANZAC day cannot be stewarded through a ballot system. This may have avoided the need to extend/widen the road at the site and would certainly alleviate but not solve the issues with cleaning up the site afterwards.I wonder how many of the visitors are there to actually pay their respects. I suspect it is probalby to add to travel stories once they return to London.

Leanne

What a disgrace... Playing Staying Alive has to take the cake doesn't it? Maybe that blaring 90 years ago would have helped?!?! The comment just made is as inappropriate for those that died 90 years ago as it is for their memories today. Wonder if John Howard would be as proud if people acted like that at a funeral? Just because it was 90 years ago doesn't make the rememberence is any less relevant. Very disappointed and ashamed. Who cares if they build a road now? Has to be better than having drunken yobs sleeping on head stones. Proud indeed!

Bruno M

If John Howard believes that leaving the memorial looking like a tip is the right way of doing things then his views do not coincide with mine.I take my rubbish out of our National Parks as most do but it appears John sides with the uneducated yobbo element that do not.

Philip B

It's just very sad.

Would these yobs like it if the rest of the population visited the graves of their loved ones, sculled a few beers and threw litter all around it??

I doubt it!!

If there's one thing worse than the cliche obnoxious loud mouthed, ignorant American tourist, it's the slobbering, filthy, unkempt Yobbo / Bogan Aussie backpacker. To them, it's just another travel destination rather than a place of rememberance and respect.

"Maaate!!! When's the next Contiki tour starting??".... hmmmmmmmmm!!!

PT

What can one really expect from these yobbo Australians?

Kelly

No doubt the ones complaining about the mess are those who have never been to Gallipoli. It's small and a national park. There are no bins and with 17,000 people, of course there will be rubbish. The photos seem to show rubbish in garbage bags.

Has anyone considered to have the organisers remain to promptly clean the mess as happens in all other events worldwide?

It's like any other event, mess is a part of it. Everyone needs to get off their high horses and add some reality to the situation.

There's no toilets on the peninsula either. Do you think anyone ducked behind a bush to relieve themself? I know i did when i was there...

I'm sure the diggers didn't mind.... they would have!

Daron

I struggle to understand how ANZACs (WWI, Vietname, Korea and Iraq) have fought to defend Australia.

All those wars happened a long way from Australia for reasons that had nothing to do with Australia. I accept and understand in WW2 - there was an immediate threat to Australia and those diggers need to be remembered for their sacrifices.

But in WWI, Vietname, Korea and Iraq - all military personel were volunteers going to war for the ostensible glory of victory. Lets not forget we invaded Turkey, and thanks to Churchill's idocy - we chose to do it in a v.silly place. Added nothing to the war. Just a lot of lives lost. I feel really sorry for them - but it should only strengthen Australia's resolve to never go to war - not serve a celebration of our military effort which is what it has become.

Sea Breeze

I don't think there's anything wrong with celebrating Anzac Day as a festival instead of a solemn occasion.

Clare M

Anzac Day has now been captured as another marketing opportunity. Football linked to the event and ceremonies performed at each match, not just on the day has cheapened the name Anzac. This forced nationalism is becoming disturbing. Having visited cemetaries in Thailand I was extremely moved at the quiet, beautiful cemetaries and the names of the young who had lost their lives there.

Philip A

Turning Gallipoli into a dump is a medal of disgrace for all those in attendance. Gallipoli has become a victim of its popularity due to the media hype. They should rope the area off to stop people from turning it into a campsite.

The day the Anzac Parade is reduced to watching kids with their great grand dads medals is fast becoming a reality. Lets hope the powers to be don't allow the Anzac Day march to fall into obscurity or allow it to be re-invented in the mould of Gallipoli.

The D Man

Australians have no idea of Herritage or culture.Thats why anzac cove was trashed like a night club.

Un-Australian

What a monumentally stupid decision it was to not have any rubbish disposal bins available on site. How naive of organisers to think that everyone would neatly pack up their refuse and quietly take it home with them. If security concerns were the reason for removing the bins then an alternate plan needed to be made. Lift your game organisers!

Mike S L

I know it is politically incorrect, but here goes. I am so glad the ANZAC day stuff is all over. It started on the 23rd and only finished yesterday. TV was so boring. Every channel had some boring doco about the Gallipoli landings every day.

Every newspaper went on and on about it. I know all about it. It was a huge mistake resulting in the tragedy of thousands of soldiers' lives ruined. What ever happened to the anti-war feeling in this country ? Why does no-one question why we celebrate a war tragedy ? Why does it surprise when 100,000 people stay at a place with no rubbish bins for hours if not days and leave behind a huge pile of rubbish ? Has any one been to a footy game with 100,000 people ? There is a huge pile of rubbish which gets collected and thrown out.